Clothes treating apparatus

ABSTRACT

A clothes treating apparatus includes a cabinet, a steam generator configured to generate steam, and a solution storing container configured to store a solution. The clothes treating apparatus also includes a steam spraying portion that is coupled to the steam generator and that is configured to spray steam and a solution spraying portion that is coupled to the solution storing container and that is configured to spray the solution. The steam spraying portion is configured to spray steam to control air pressure at the outlet of the solution spraying portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(a), this application claims the benefit of anearlier filing date of and the right of priority to Korean ApplicationNo. 10-2015-0078078, filed on Jun. 2, 2015, the contents of which areincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

This specification generally relates to a clothes treating apparatus.

A clothes treating apparatus includes a washing machine washing clothesor laundry, a drying machine drying clothes, a washing/driving machinehaving washing and drying functions, and a refresher or a clothesmanagement device refreshing clothes by supplying hot air to theclothes.

The drying machine includes a drum type drying machine that driesclothes in a spinning manner, and a so-called cabinet type dryingmachine that dries clothes while hanging the clothes.

Some clothes treating apparatuses, such as the drying machine, thewashing/drying machine, the refresher and the clothes managing device,having the drying function, are provided with a spraying device or aspray unit that sprays a solution for restoring functionalities ofclothes to be treated, for example, a wrinkle removal, a deodorization,a clothes shape recovery, a clothes lifespan expansion, and the like.

The spraying device of spraying the solution includes a spray nozzle forspraying the solution, and a pump for pumping the solution into thespray nozzle.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a clothes treating apparatus includes a cabinet, a steamgenerator configured to generate steam, and a solution storing containerconfigured to store a solution. The clothes treating apparatus alsoincludes a steam spraying portion that is coupled to the steam generatorand that is configured to spray steam and a solution spraying portionthat is coupled to the solution storing container and that is configuredto spray the solution. An outlet of the steam spraying portion isadjacent to an outlet of the solution spraying portion and the steamspraying portion is configured to spray steam to control air pressure atthe outlet of the solution spraying portion.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. Forexample, the clothes treating apparatus may include a fixed supportingportion configured to fixedly support the steam spraying portion and thesolution spraying portion.

In some implementations, the clothes treating apparatus may include amovable supporting portion configured to support the solution sprayingportion to be movable with respect to the steam spraying portion. Inthese implementations, the movable supporting portion may include afirst coupling portion detachably coupled to the steam spraying portion.Further, in these implementations, the movable supporting portion mayinclude a second coupling portion detachably coupled to the solutionspraying portion.

In addition, the outlet of the steam spraying portion may be orientedtoward a first direction, the outlet of the solution spraying portionmay be oriented toward a second direction, and the first direction andthe second direction may intersect at a certain angle. The certain anglemay be in a range of 45 degrees to 90 degrees. Also, a diameter of theoutlet of the steam spraying portion may be in a range of 1.0 mm to 2.0mm. A diameter of the outlet of the solution spraying portion is in arange of 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm.

In some examples, the clothes treating apparatus may include an airsupply device disposed in a first area inside the cabinet and the airsupply device may be configured to condition temperature or humidity ofair discharged from a second area inside the cabinet and return theconditioned air to the second area inside the cabinet. In theseexamples, the clothes treating apparatus may include a steam pipe, wherea first end of the steam pipe is connected to the steam spraying portionand a second end of the steam pipe is connected to the steam generatorthat is disposed in the first area inside the cabinet. Further, in theseexamples, the clothes treating apparatus may include a second steamspraying portion configured to spray steam, a second solution sprayingportion that is coupled to the solution storing container and that isconfigured to spray the solution, and a second steam pipe, where a firstend of the second steam pipe is connected to the steam spraying portionand a second end of the steam pipe is connected to the steam generator.

In addition, the clothes treating apparatus may include a tub inside thecabinet, where the tub defines an inner space of the tub as the firstarea. In this case, the steam pipe may upwardly extend between thecabinet and the tub with the steam pipe being inserted into the tub. Thesteam spraying portion and the solution spraying portion may be disposedinside the cabinet and may be detachable from the cabinet.

In some implementations, the clothes treating apparatus may include asolution pipe, where a first end of the solution pipe is connected tothe solution storing container and a second end of the solution pipe isconnected to the solution spraying portion. The clothes treatingapparatus also may include a switching valve configured to open andclose the solution pipe. In these implementations, the clothes treatingapparatus may include a discharge portion configured to discharge asolution through the solution pipe that is connected to the dischargeportion, where the discharge portion is located at a lower portion ofthe solution storing container. Also, in these implementations, theclothes treating apparatus may include a mode selecting unit configuredto determine that the solution is supplied to the second area inside thecabinet, and a controller configured to control the switching valvebased on the determination that the solution is supplied to the secondarea inside the cabinet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an inside of an example clothestreating apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a bottom inside of an example clothestreating apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example spray unit, an example steamgenerator, and an example solution storing container.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example spray unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example spray unit.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example clothes treatingapparatus.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another example spray unit.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example movable supporting portion.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating another example spray unit.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example spray unit.

Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicatelike elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an inside of an example clothes treating apparatusand FIG. 2 illustrates an example machine room of FIG. 1.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the clothes treating apparatus mayinclude a cabinet 110 having an accommodating space 114 in which clothesto be treated is accommodated, a steam generator 180 for generatingsteam, a solution storing container 190 for storing a solution thereinto recover a function of the clothes to be treated, and a spray unit 210a for spraying the steam and the solution into the accommodating space114. The spray unit 210 a may include a steam spraying portion 220connected to the steam generator 180 for spraying the steam suppliedfrom the steam generator 180, and a solution spraying portion 230connected to the solution storing container 190 and having an outletthat is disposed at a negative pressure area 225 formed by the steamsprayed through the steam spraying portion 220 for spraying the solutionof the solution storing container 190.

In some implementations, the solution refers to a liquid materialcontaining an element which allows a recovery of a functionality of theclothes to be treated, for example, provides at least one of effects,such as a deodorization, a wrinkle removal, a clothes shape recovery anda clothes lifespan expansion.

The cabinet 110, for example, may have a rectangular parallelepipedshape in which the accommodating space 114 having a front opening isformed.

The cabinet 110 may have a frame 113 disposed to corresponding to eachedge of the rectangular parallelepiped.

A door 121 for opening and closing the front opening may be rotatablyprovided at a front surface of the cabinet 110.

The accommodating space 114 may be provided at an upper area within thecabinet 110, and a machine room 130 for accommodating components thereinmay be provided at a lower area within the cabinet 110.

A supporting rod 115 on which the clothes to be treated is hung andsupported may be provided within the accommodating space 114. Thesupporting rod 115 may be fixed in the accommodating space 114.

The supporting rod 115 may also be provided with a movable supportingrod, which is movable to apply a predetermined motion to the clothes tobe treated.

An air outlet 116 and an air inlet 118 through which internal air isdischarged or external air is introduced may be provided at theaccommodating space 114.

In the machine room 130, an air supply device 150 is provided forsupplying processed (e.g., dehumidified and/or heated) air into theaccommodating space 114.

The air supply device 150, for example, may include a heat pump 151,which includes a compressor 153 compressing a refrigerant, a condenser155 condensing the refrigerant in a radiating manner, an expansiondevice expanding the refrigerant, and an evaporator 157 by which therefrigerant is evaporated by absorbing latent heat.

The air supply device 150 may include a circulation passage 161 throughwhich air within the accommodating space 114 circulates via an outsideof the accommodating space 114, and a fan 171 for facilitating a flow ofair.

The circulation passage 161, for example, may include a discharge duct162 connected to the air outlet 116, and an introduction duct 164connected to the air inlet 118.

In the circulation passage 161 may be provided the evaporator 157 thatheat-exchanged with air discharged from the accommodating space 114.

With the configuration, the air discharged out of the accommodatingspace 114 may be cooled by the heat-exchange with the evaporator 157 andmoisture contained in the air may be condensed and removed accordingly,thereby becoming dry air with low temperature.

The condenser 155 may be provided in the circulation passage 161.

The condenser 155 may be provided at a downstream side of the evaporator157 along a flowing direction of the air.

With the configuration, the dry air with the low temperature, from whichthe moisture has been removed due to cooling by the evaporator 157, maybe heated to increase temperature, and accordingly dry air with hightemperature can be supplied back into the accommodating space 114.

In this exemplary implementation, the fan 171 is provided at adownstream side of the condenser 155, but the position of the fan 171may appropriately be adjustable.

The steam generator 180 for generating steam may be provided at one sideof the machine room 130, for example.

A door module 135 may be detachably provided on a front area of themachine room 130. The door module 135, for example, may be provided witha moisture supply portion for supplying moisture (or water) into thesteam generator 180.

The steam generator 180, for example, may include a container 181 havinga storage space in which water and steam are contained, and an electricheater 184 for heating the water within the container 181.

A steam pipe 182 through which steam within the container 181 isexternally discharged may be connected to one side area of the container181 of the steam generator 180.

The container 181 of the steam generator 180, for example, may beconnected with a plurality steam pipes 182.

In some implementations, two steam pipes 182 are connected to thecontainer 181 of the steam generator 180, but this is merelyillustrative. The number of steam pipes connected may appropriately beadjustable.

In some implementations, an inner case or tub 111 (hereinafter, referredto as ‘tub 111’) which forms the accommodating space 114 may be providedwithin the cabinet 110.

The tub 111, for example, may have a rectangular parallelepiped shapewith a front opening, and be provided with a rear surface portion 112 a,both side surface portions 112 b, an upper surface portion and a lowersurface portion.

The spray unit 210 a for spraying steam and the solution into theaccommodating space 114 may be provided within the accommodating space114.

The spray unit 210 a may detachably be coupled to the tub 111.

The spray unit 210 a may be fixed by a bracket 227 (see FIG. 3) which isdetachably coupled to the tub 111.

The spray unit 210 a, for example, may be provided in plurality.

The spray unit 210 a may be provided by two in number to be coupled tothe rear surface portion 112 a or both side surface portions 112 b ofthe tub 111.

The solution storing container 190 may be provided at one side of eachspray unit 210 a to supply the solution to the corresponding spray unit210 a.

Each solution storing container 190, for example, may have a cylindricalshape for accommodating the solution therein, and be provided with adischarge portion 192 (see FIG. 4) at a bottom surface thereof such thatthe solution can be discharged therethrough.

Each discharge portion 192 may be connected with a solution pipe 195which forms a path of the solution such that the solution within thesolution storing container 190 can flow toward the spray unit 210 athrough the discharge portion 192.

Each solution pipe 195, for example, may be provided with a switchingvalve 197 (see FIG. 3) for opening/closing the solution pipe 195.

This may allow for a selective supply of the solution into theaccommodating space 114, and accordingly a supply of only steam into theaccommodating space 114 may also be enabled.

The spray units 210 a may be connected respectively to the steam pipes182 which upwardly extend from the steam generator 180.

Each steam pipe 182, for example, may upwardly extend between a sidewall of the tub 111 and a side wall of the cabinet 110 and be insertedinto the tub 111 through the both side surface portions 112 b of the tub111, thereby being connected to each spray unit 210 a.

In some implementations, FIG. 3 illustrates an example spray unit, anexample steam generator, and an example solution storing container. FIG.4 illustrates an example spray unit. FIG. 5 illustrates an example sprayunit.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5, the spray unit 210 a may include a steamspraying portion 220 connected to the steam generator 180 to spray thesteam supplied from the steam generator 180 therethrough, and a solutionspraying portion 230 connected to the solution storing container 190 andhaving an outlet at a negative pressure area 225, which is formed by thesteam sprayed through the steam spraying portion 220, to spray thesolution within the solution storing container 190 therethrough.

The steam spraying portion 220 may be provided with a body 221 in ashape of a pipe in which a flow area (diameter) of steam is reduced.

The body 221 of the steam spraying portion 220, for example, asillustrated in FIG. 4, may include a large diameter part 222 a, a smalldiameter part 222 b having a diameter more reduced than that of thelarge diameter part 222 a, and a variable diameter part 222 c having oneside connected to the large diameter part 222 a and another sideconnected to the small diameter part 222 b such that its inner diameteris gradually reduced.

Accordingly, steam introduced into the large diameter part 222 a mayflow fast due to the change in the flow cross-section. This may allowthe steam to be externally sprayed through the small diameter part 222 bat a preset speed.

A guide portion 226 which has a gradually-reduced outer width (ordiameter) may be provided at an end portion of the large diameter part222 a.

The guide portion 226 may facilitate the large diameter part 222 a to beinserted into another end portion of the steam pipe 182 whose one endportion is connected to the steam generator 180, which may allow thelarge diameter part 222 a to be easily coupled to the steam pipe 182.

In some implementations, the small diameter part 222 b may be providedwith a negative pressure area 225 that is formed at an outlet sidethereof during spraying of the steam. The negative pressure area 225 mayhave negative (−) pressure lower than atmospheric pressure.

The small diameter part 222 b may have an inner diameter in the range of1.0 mm to 2.0 mm, for example.

In some implementations, when the inner diameter of the small diameterpart 222 b exceeds 2.0 mm, it may make it difficult to form the negativepressure area at the outlet side of the steam spraying portion 220.

When the inner diameter of the small diameter part 222 b is shorter than1.0 mm, pressure applied to the small diameter part 222 b mayaccumulatively increase, thereby causing damage on the small diameterpart 222 b.

A curved end portion 224, for example, may be formed at an end portionof the small diameter part 222 b.

Accordingly, the spraying direction of the steam can be adjusted into apreset direction.

The curved end portion 224 of the small diameter part 222 b, forexample, may be configured in a manner that an outer width (or diameter)thereof is gradually reduced toward an end.

The solution spraying portion 230, for example, may be disposed in amanner that a spraying direction of the solution intersects with thespraying direction of the steam.

Accordingly, the solution sprayed through the solution spraying portion230 may collide with the steam, which is sprayed at the preset speed, ata relatively fast speed, thereby being atomized.

The solution spraying portion 230, for example, may have a body 231 in ashape of a pipe, in which a passage with substantially the same diameteris formed.

The solution spraying portion 230 may have an inner diameter in therange of 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm.

This may prevent the solution spraying portion 230 from being blocked.

A guide portion 236 with a gradually-reduced outer width may be providedat one end portion of the solution spraying portion 230.

The guide portion 236 may facilitate an end portion of the solutionspraying portion 230 to be inserted into the solution pipe 195, therebyallowing the solution spraying portion 230 and the solution pipe 195 tobe easily coupled to each other.

The solution spraying portion 230 may be disposed in a manner that anoutlet thereof is located within the negative pressure area 225 which isformed during spraying of the steam through the steam spraying portion220.

Accordingly, the solution stored in the solution storing container 190can flow to the solution spraying portion 230 along the solution pipe195 by a pressure difference between internal pressure of the solutionstoring container 190 and pressure of the negative pressure area 225 andbe sprayed through the solution spraying portion 230. For reference, inan open state of the passage of the solution pipe 195, when the steam issprayed through the steam spraying portion 220, the negative pressurearea may be formed at the outlet side of the steam spraying portion 220,and accordingly the outlet side of the solution spraying portion 230 mayhave lower pressure than the internal pressure of the solution storingcontainer 190, regardless of an installed position of the solutionstoring container 190. Therefore, the solution within the solutionstoring container 190 can be sprayed through the outlet of the solutionspraying portion 230.

The steam spraying portion 220 may have a spraying speed at which thesteam sprayed through the small diameter part 222 b can atomize thesolution sprayed through the solution spraying portion.

For example, when the inner diameter of the small diameter part 222 b is2.0 mm and the spraying speed of the steam through the small diameterpart 222 b is 301.7 m/s, negative pressure (e.g., −0.12 bar) may begenerated at an outlet area of the small diameter part 222 b andadditionally the solution sprayed through the solution spraying portion230 can be atomized by colliding with the steam sprayed at the speed,and sprayed by being mixed with the steam.

With the configuration, the solution can first be atomized by the steamand sprayed by being mixed with the steam, which spreads to a relativelywide range. This may allow the solution to be brought into contact withthe clothes to be treated at a relatively wide area.

The body 231 of the solution spraying portion 230, for example, may beprovided with a curved end portion 234 which is curved approximatelyperpendicularly to a lengthwise direction.

Accordingly, an arrangement direction of the body 231 of the solutionspraying portion 230 and the spraying direction of the solution can beadjusted into preset directions.

The curved end portion 234 of the solution spraying portion 230, forexample, may be disposed perpendicular to the curved end portion 224 ofthe steam spraying portion 220.

The solution spraying portion 230 (body 231), for example, asillustrated in FIG. 5, may be arranged in parallel to the steam sprayingdirection Ds of the steam spraying portion 220.

In some implementations, the steam spraying portion 220 and the solutionspraying portion 230 may integrally be fixed.

The spray unit 210 a, for example, may include a fixed supportingportion 240 that supports the steam spraying portion 220 and thesolution spraying portion 230 to be fixed to preset positions.

The fixed supporting portion 240, for example, may have one sideconnected to the steam spraying portion 220 and another side connectedto the solution spraying portion 230.

In more detail, the fixed supporting portion 240 may fixedly support thesteam spraying portion 220 and the solution spraying portion 230, in astate that the outlet of the solution spraying portion 230 is located inthe negative pressure area 225 formed during spraying of the steamthrough the steam spraying portion 220.

Accordingly, the solution spraying portion 230 can spray the solutionstored in the solution storing container 190, without a use of aseparate component, such as a pump, by virtue of the pressure differencebetween the pressure of the negative pressure area formed at the outletarea of the steam spraying portion 220 during spraying of the steamthrough the steam spraying portion 220 and the internal pressure of thesolution storing container 190.

The fixed supporting portion 240, for example, may be provided with aplurality of supporting plates 242 which connect the steam sprayingportion 220 and the solution spraying portion 230 in an integral manner.

The fixed supporting portion 240, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 5,may include a first plate 243 a having one end portion connected to thesmall diameter part 222 b of the steam spraying portion 220 and anotherend portion connected to the body 231 of the solution spraying portion230, and a second plate 243 b having one end portion connected to thecurved end portion 224 of the steam spraying portion 220 and another endportion connected to the curved end portion 234 of the solution sprayingportion 230.

In some implementations, FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of anexample clothes treating apparatus.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the clothes treating apparatus may include acontroller 250 for controlling the solution to be supplied in a mannerof spraying steam.

The controller 250, for example, may be implemented as a microprocessorhaving a control program.

The controller 250 may be connected with a mode selecting unit 255performing communication with the controller 250 and allowing forselecting a solution supply mode in which the solution is supplied.

The mode selecting unit 255, for example, may be configured to select asteam supply mode in which only steam is supplied into the accommodatingspace 114, without the solution supplied.

The controller 250 may be connected with the steam generator 180 andthus control the steam generator 180 to generate steam upon theselection of the solution supply mode through the mode selecting unit255.

The controller 250 may be connected with the switching valve 197 andthus control the switching valve 197 to open or close the solution pipe195.

With the configuration, when the clothes to be treated is accommodatedin the accommodating space 114 and the solution supply mode is selectedthrough the mode selecting unit 225, the controller 250 may control thesteam generator 180 to generate steam.

The controller 250 may control the switching valve 197 to open thesolution pipe 195.

The steam generated in the steam generator 180 may flow along the steampipe 195 and be sprayed through the steam spraying portion 220.

When the steam is sprayed through the small diameter part 222 b of thesteam spraying portion 220, the negative pressure area 225 in whichpressure is lower than atmospheric pressure may be formed at the outletside of the small diameter part 222 b.

When the negative pressure area 225 is formed due to the steam sprayedthrough the small diameter part 222 b, the solution within the solutionstoring container 190 may flow along the solution pipe 195 and then besprayed through the solution spraying portion 230.

The solution sprayed through the solution spraying portion 230 may bebrought into contact in a colliding manner with the steam, which hasbeen sprayed through the small diameter part 222 b at the preset speed,thereby being atomized.

In addition to the atomization, the solution sprayed through thesolution spraying portion 230 can also be mixed with the steam sprayedthrough the steam spraying portion 220. The atomized solution mixed withthe steam may thusly be spread and sprayed to a relatively wide sprayingrange to be brought into contact with the clothes to be treated.

Accordingly, in the clothes treating apparatus disclosed herein, thesolution can uniformly be sprayed to the relatively wide area of theclothes to be treated, thereby reducing the number of nozzles to beinstalled for spraying the solution.

Also, with the atomization of the solution, a requirement of manynozzles for spraying the solution, which is caused due to a narrowspraying range of the related art solution nozzle, can be obviated.

In addition, the related art problem of generating a portion where asolution and clothes are not in contact with each other, which is causeddue to the solution being sprayed in a liquid state to a local rangethrough a nozzle with a minute (or fine, small) diameter, can beprevented.

Also, the diameter of the spraying portion for spraying the solution canincrease, thereby solving the problem of blocking a nozzle for sprayingthe solution.

FIGS. 7 to 10 illustrate other example spray units for a clothestreating apparatus.

FIG. 7 illustrates another example spray unit. FIG. 8 illustrates anexample movable supporting portion. FIG. 9 illustrates another examplespray unit. FIG. 10 illustrates another example spray unit.

The clothes treating apparatus may include a cabinet 110 having anaccommodating space 114 for accommodating clothes to be treated therein,a steam generator 180 for generating steam, a solution storing container190 for storing therein a solution for recovering a function of theclothes to be treated, and a spray unit 210 b for spraying the steam andthe solution into the accommodating space 114. The spray unit 210 b mayinclude a steam spraying portion 220 connected to the steam generator180 to spray the steam generated in the steam generator 180, and asolution spraying portion 230 connected to the solution storingcontainer 190 and having an outlet disposed at a negative pressure area225 formed by the steam sprayed through the steam spraying portion 220so as to spray the solution of the solution storing container 190.

The spray unit 210 b, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 7, may includea steam spraying portion 220 in a linear shape, and a solution sprayingportion 230 disposed perpendicular to the steam spraying portion 220.

The spray unit 210 b, for example, may be provided with a movablesupporting portion 260 a which supports the solution spraying portion230 to be relatively movable with respect to the steam spraying portion220 in a state that the outlet of the solution spraying portion 230 isdisposed in the negative pressure area 225 of the steam spraying portion220.

The movable supporting portion 260 a, for example, may be detachablycoupled to the steam spraying portion 220.

The movable supporting portion 260 a, for example, may be detachablycoupled to the solution spraying portion 230.

In more detail, the movable supporting portion 260 a, as illustrated inFIG. 8, may be provided with a steam spraying portion coupling portion261 detachably coupled to the steam spraying portion 220.

The movable supporting portion 260 a may be provided with a solutionspraying portion coupling portion 271 detachably coupled to the solutionspraying portion 230.

The steam spraying portion coupling portion 261, for example, may becoupled to an outer surface of the small diameter part 222 b.

The steam spraying portion coupling portion 261, for example, may haveboth side walls 262 which are arranged into an arcuate shape having anopening 263 at one side such that the small diameter part 222 b isaccommodated therein.

The steam spraying portion coupling portion 261 may be configured toperform a relative motion (rotation) with respect to the steam sprayingportion 220 after being coupled to the steam spraying portion 220.

This may allow for adjusting a relative position of the solutionspraying portion 230 with respect to the steam spraying portion 220,which may prevent an occurrence of interference between the solutionspraying portion 230 and/or the solution pipe 195 and adjacentcomponents.

Upon coupled to the small diameter part 222 b, the opening 263 betweenthe both side walls 262 of the steam spraying portion coupling portion261 may be externally widened by elastic force of the side walls 262 tohave an increased width. After being coupled, the opening 263 betweenthe both side walls 262 of the steam spraying portion coupling portion261 may be recovered to its original position (or original state) by theelastic force.

The solution spraying portion coupling portion 271, for example, may becoupled to an outer surface of the body 231 of the solution sprayingportion 230.

The solution spraying portion coupling portion 271, for example, mayhave both side walls 272 which are arranged into an arcuate shape havingan opening 273 at one side such that the body 231 of the solutionspraying portion 230 is accommodated therein.

Upon being coupled to the solution spraying portion 230, the opening 273between the both side walls 272 may be externally widened. After beingcoupled, the opening 273 of the both side walls 272 may be recovered byelastic force of the side walls 272 to its original position (ororiginal state) at which the opening 273 has its initial width betweenthe both sides walls.

The movable supporting portion 260 a may have a connector 281 throughwhich the steam spraying portion coupling portion 261 and the solutionspraying portion coupling portion 271 are integrally connected to eachother.

The connector 281, for example, may allow the steam spraying portioncoupling portion 261 and the solution spraying portion coupling portion271 to be perpendicular to each other.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, a movable supporting portion 260 b mayinclude a connector 282 by which the steam spraying portion couplingportion 261 and the solution spraying portion coupling portion 271 arearranged to form an inner angle corresponding to a preset tilt angle θ(e.g., 45°).

This example illustrates that the movable supporting portion 260 b isformed in the manner that the inner angle between the steam sprayingportion coupling portion 261 and the solution spraying portion couplingportion 271 is 45°, but the inner angle between the steam sprayingportion coupling portion 261 and the solution spraying portion couplingportion 271 may appropriately be adjustable.

In some implementations, the steam spraying portion 220 may be providedwith a stopper 228 which enables the rotation of the steam sprayingportion coupling portion 261 and simultaneously prevents the steamspraying portion coupling portion 261 from being loosened in alengthwise direction (axial direction).

The stopper 228, for example, may be formed in a shape of a groove (orrecess) recessed into the outer surface of the small diameter part 222 bin a radial direction.

The solution spraying portion 230, for example, may be provided with astopper 238 which prevents the solution spraying portion couplingportion 271 from being loosened in a lengthwise direction (axialdirection) of the solution spraying portion 230 after the solutionspraying portion coupling portion 271 is coupled.

The stopper 238 of the solution spraying portion 230, for example, maybe formed in a shape of outwardly protruding from the outer surface ofthe body 231 of the solution spraying portion 230 in a radial direction.

This example illustrates that the steam spraying portion 220 is providedwith the stopper 228 in the shape of the recessed groove, and thesolution spraying portion 230 is provided with the stopper 238 in aprotruded shape. However, the present invention may not be limited tothis. A stopper protruding in a radial direction may be formed on thesteam spraying portion 220 and a stopper in a shape of a groove recessedin a radial direction may be formed on the outer surface of the solutionspraying portion 230.

As described above, the solution can be sprayed without using a pump.Thus, the spray unit can reduce noise caused by a pump.

Also, since a pump is not used in the spray unit, it reduces themanufacturing cost for the spray unit.

The solution can be sprayed by being atomized and a sprayed range of thesolution can be widened, which may allow a reduction of number of spraynozzles. This may also result in the reduction of the component costs.

The solution can be uniformly sprayed to clothes to be treated afterbeing atomized and mixed with steam, which may facilitate a realizationof the original purpose of the solution.

An inner diameter of a spray nozzle of the solution can increase, whichmay result in facilitating a fabrication of the spray nozzle andpreventing the spray nozzle of the solution from being blocked.

Also, a movable supporting portion may be provided to support thesolution spraying portion to be relatively movable with respect to thesteam spraying portion in a state that an outlet of the solutionspraying portion is disposed in a negative pressure area of the steamspraying portion. This may allow for adjusting relative positions of thesteam spraying portion and the solution spraying portion, resulting inpreventing interference with adjacent components.

What is claimed is:
 1. A clothes treating apparatus, comprising: acabinet; a steam generator configured to generate steam; a solutionstoring container configured to store a solution; a steam sprayingportion that is coupled to the steam generator and that is configured tospray steam; and a solution spraying portion that is coupled to thesolution storing container and that is configured to spray the solution,wherein an outlet of the steam spraying portion is adjacent to an outletof the solution spraying portion and the steam spraying portion isconfigured to spray steam to control air pressure at the outlet of thesolution spraying portion.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising a fixed supporting portion configured to fixedly support thesteam spraying portion and the solution spraying portion.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1, further comprising a movable supporting portionconfigured to support the solution spraying portion to be movable withrespect to the steam spraying portion.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3,wherein the movable supporting portion includes a first coupling portiondetachably coupled to the steam spraying portion.
 5. The apparatus ofclaim 4, wherein the movable supporting portion includes a secondcoupling portion detachably coupled to the solution spraying portion. 6.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outlet of the steam sprayingportion is oriented toward a first direction, the outlet of the solutionspraying portion is oriented toward a second direction, and the firstdirection and the second direction intersect at a certain angle.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the outlet of the steamspraying portion is in a range of 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm.
 8. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein a diameter of the outlet of the solution sprayingportion is in a range of 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1,further comprising an air supply device disposed in a first area insidethe cabinet, wherein the air supply device is configured to conditiontemperature or humidity of air discharged from a second area inside thecabinet and return the conditioned air to the second area inside thecabinet.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a steam pipe,wherein a first end of the steam pipe is connected to the steam sprayingportion and a second end of the steam pipe is connected to the steamgenerator that is disposed in the first area inside the cabinet.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 10, further comprising: a second steam sprayingportion configured to spray steam; a second solution spraying portionthat is coupled to the solution storing container and that is configuredto spray the solution; and a second steam pipe, wherein a first end ofthe second steam pipe is connected to the steam spraying portion and asecond end of the steam pipe is connected to the steam generator. 12.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the steam spraying portion and thesolution spraying portion are disposed inside the cabinet and detachablefrom the cabinet.
 13. The apparatus of claim of 1, further comprising: asolution pipe, wherein a first end of the solution pipe is connected tothe solution storing container and a second end of the solution pipe isconnected to the solution spraying portion; and a switching valveconfigured to open and close the solution pipe.
 14. The apparatus ofclaim 13, further comprising a discharge portion configured to dischargea solution through the solution pipe that is connected to the dischargeportion, wherein the discharge portion is located at a lower portion ofthe solution storing container.
 15. The apparatus of claim 13, furthercomprising: a mode selecting unit configured to determine that thesolution is supplied to the second area inside the cabinet; and acontroller configured to control the switching valve based on thedetermination that the solution is supplied to the second area insidethe cabinet.
 16. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the certain angle isin a range of 45 degrees to 90 degrees.
 17. The apparatus of claim 10,further comprising a tub inside the cabinet, wherein the tub defines aninner space of the tub as the first area.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17,wherein the steam pipe upwardly extends between the cabinet and the tub,the steam pipe being inserted into the tub.